2015 Dodge Challenger SRT / SRT Hellcat: A Two-Pronged Attack

A more-powerful 6.4 Hemi is joined by a supercharged 6.2.

ALEXANDER STOKLOSA

May 20, 2014

Having already covered the changes made to the rest of Dodge’s Challenger lineup for 2015, we’ll skip right to the good stuff in this report: The SRT model with Dodge’s new supercharged 6.2-liter Hellcat engine is a real thing. Dodge has confirmed the beastly model we’ve been eagerly anticipating and even spotted testing in the wild earlier this month.

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Curiously, Dodge is making its Hellcat-powered Challenger a sub-model to the Challenger SRT 392, rather than making it the Challenger SRT. That means you’ll have to ask for the “SRT with the Hellcat engine,” to use Dodge’s clunky descriptor. In either Challenger SRT, though, power is the name of the game. The regular car’s 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 gains 15 horsepower and 5 lb-ft of torque—for totals of 485 and 475—while the blown Hellcat motor brings “600-plus” horsepower and more than 575 lb-ft of torque.

Although the lack of final figures for the Hellcat is disappointing, we’re confident Dodge isn’t holding back merely for the fun of it. There likely is a heated internal discussion going on right now over where to cap the supercharged V-8’s output—or to cap it at all. The elephant in that boardroom surely is Chrysler’s crown jewel, the Viper, which gets 640 horsepower from its massive V-10. Company men might not like the idea of an engine in a far-more-affordable Challenger topping those numbers. Still, former SRT chief Ralph Gilles indicated the Hellcat could crest the Viper’s mark, and besides, anything over 600 is bonkers. (Just ask anyone that’s driven the 662-horse last-gen Shelby GT500.)

Hell Kitty Rises from the Embers

Dodge is at least speaking our language on what makes the Hellcat so hellacious. The 6.2-liter mill is really a 6.4-liter Hemi with its stroke reduced by 0.14 inch (3.6 mm), apparently to spare the crankshaft and rod bearings a brutal death. To further ensure that doesn’t happen, the crankshaft is forged steel with hardened bearing surfaces. The pistons are forged, while the rods are powder-forged and fitted with beefed-up bushings and carbon-coated pins. Dodge fitted heat-treated aluminum heads, as well as die-cast aluminum rocker covers slathered in Hemi Orange paint, a touch sure to be appreciated by hard-core Mopar-heads.

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The Hellcat’s screw-type supercharger comes from IHI and is bolstered by dual water-to-air intercoolers, while air-to-oil engine coolers helps the V-8 avoid the sweats. A near-straight-through exhaust—with electronic valves that open up for more sound—helps the Hellcat hellbreathe. Both the 6.4-liter and the Hellcat engines can be paired with either a Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual or a TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic. Power is routed to the rear wheels via an up-rated driveshaft, axles, half-shafts, and a rear differential with additional cooling.

Aside from its (at least) 115-hp advantage, the SRT Hellcat is differentiated from regular SRTs by its half-inch-wider matte-black forged-aluminum wheels, Pirelli P Zero Nero rubber in place of Goodyear F1 Supercar pieces, standard 15.4-inch two-piece Brembo brake rotors and six-piston calipers, a larger front splitter and rear spoiler, “Dark Engine Turned” aluminum interior trim, and Radar Red gauge faces and digital graphics. The Hellcat also gets a funky “Air Catcher” ram-air inlet built into the driver’s side parking light, “Supercharged” fender badges, and a pair of unique keys. One is red, and unlocks the Hellcat’s full potential, while the other is black and limits the engine’s output to 500 horsepower. An intense valet mode also is included; it “significantly reduces horsepower and torque,” limits engine speed to 4000 rpm, engages all safety nannies, and locks out manual control for the automatic.

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Everything Else

All Challenger SRT models get an aluminum hood with a bulging center intake scoop, while the Hellcat adds dual air extractors to the same piece for more cooling. An SRT-specific, heated flat-bottom steering wheel also makes the list, as well as a Uconnect infotainment-based Drive Mode selector for cycling between Default, Sport, Track, and Custom settings for the power output, transmission, three-mode Bilstein suspension, traction control, and steering.

The interior benefits from standard heated and cooled front seats, an 8.4-inch Uconnect touch screen, and a seven-inch full color TFT driver-information display. Buyers will be able to add performance seats, Nappa leather or even higher-end Laguna leather, a matte-black hood, a bronze “Brass Monkey” finish for the Hellcat’s wheels, adaptive cruise control, and the choice of twin full-body stripes in either matte black or glossy silver. SRT buyers can upgrade to the Hellcat’s Brembo big-brake kit and P Zero tires by opting for the Track Pack.

Dodge promises pricing will be available closer to the on-sale date later this year, following a pre-order period that begins this summer. And since they’re pending final calibration, the Hellcat’s official output figures will be released, too, which is all we’re really waiting for. Well, that, and to drive the thing.